Policy:

Medication disposal should follow federal and state laws for all prescription, controlled, vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications.

Practice:

1. Medications that are no longer needed by the student, have been discontinued, and are unable to be returned to the pharmacy should be disposed of according to applicable laws and guidelines.

2. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly released guidelines for disposal of prescription medications. Controlled Substances must be destroyed so that they are unusable by another person to prevent diversion of the drugs.

a. Two nurses will verify the medications being disposed of and a
documentation of the disposal of controlled medications will be kept in the controlled
substance logbook. This will be signed off by both nurses when destruction is completed.

b. Two nurses will then place all medications to be disposed of into a
2-millimeter, zip-lock bag. Hot tap water will then be added and
bag sealed. Let the medications dissolve for 5-15 minutes before
adding Absorb-all. Manipulate the sealed bag and its contents until
all moisture is absorbed.

c. Place the sealed bag and its contents into a garbage container in
the nursing area. Housekeeping can then discard the garbage bag
into the campus dumpster.

3. The 2-millimeter, zip-lock bags should be obtained through the food service supplier (Eastern Bag Company).

4. The Absorb-All should be obtained through the maintenance department supplier (Burnell Auto Parts).